Banding and binning means for display shelves



May 19, 1970 B. D. ARMSTRONG BANDING AND BINNING MEANS FOR DISPLAY SHELVES Filed May 20, 1968 INVENTOR BLA IR 0. ARMSTRONG 8 7M LML Attorney United States Patent 0 3,512,652 BANDING AND BINNING MEANS FOR DISPLAY SHELVES Blair D. Armstrong, Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Store Fixture Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 20, 1968, Ser. No. 730,432 Int. Cl. A47f 5/00 US. Cl. 211134 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A molding strip is disclosed which receives and supports either partition member or binning or banding strips on the peripheral edges of horizontal display panels. There is also disclosed a combination molding and indicia strip which provides for easy installation of partition members or binning or banding strips on the peripheral edges of horizontal display shelves while at the same time providing a ticketing or price strip channel so as to display an insert upon the face of which is typed or printed identifying indicia or information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention relates to that general class of devices known as banding or binning strips that are employed in association with shelves, display counters, and like horizontal merchandise display areas so as to provide a convenient means of securing the arranging removable upright partitions or merchandise dividers thereon, More particularly the invention relates to molding strips and to a novel combination molding and indicia strip for securing and supporting partition member or banding or binning strips on the peripheral edges of store furniture of this type while at the same time providing a ticketing or price strip channel for the reception of merchandise identifying and pricing display cards or strips.

Description of the prior art According to present practice, binning or banding trips are generally mounted along the edges of horizontal shelving or the like. The binning or banding strips are formed with a plurality of openings which divide their length into a series of sockets, each one of which is designed to snugly receive and hold a cooperating tab or extension on a. partition in any one of several selected locations, and. when the partitions are fashioned to the trips they serve various purposes. The partitions are at times utilized as banding members, i.e., arranged to form the ends and front and rear sides of the merchandise supporting area to keep articles from falling off the edges, and at times as binning members, i.e., arranged diagonally or transversely across the display area to form dividers separating the area into compartments or bins. In most cases the partitions are employed in both these ways, and various arrangements of the partitions are generally used to provide bins of different sizes to most advantageously display or afford access to articles of merchandise of different sizes, kinds or quantities.

An example of the type of binning or banding means over which the present invention is an improvement is shown in the patent to Peacock, No. 3,308,963, issued Mar. 14, 1967.

SUMMARY Briefly, the present invention provides a molding for securing and supporting binning or banding means along the peripheral edges of display shelves, and one form of molding according to the present invention, also provides 3,512,652 Patented May 19, 1970 a channel for the reception of an insert upon the face of which is marked identifying indicia or information. The molding comprises an elongated strip having a pair of spaced elongated walls defining the side walls of an elongated upwardly-opening channel or slot when the molding strip is mounted along the edge of a display shelf, and there is a bottom wall integrally formed with the lower edges of the side walls to form the bottom of the channel or slot. The pair of spaced side walls are normally parallel but are resiliently yieldable out of para]- lelism to permit the insertion of either a partition member or an elongated rubberous banding or binning strip into the channel, and the side walls are capable of springing back to their normal parallel relationship to tightly embrace the partition or the banding or binning strip between their interior faces.

In order to fasten the molding strip along the edges of display shelves, there is provided on one of the side walls an integral flange that extends from that side wall at right angles thereto, and the integral flange has serrations formed thereon. When the molding is applied to the edge of a display shelf that has previously been provided with a slot or kerf, the integral flange is pressed into the kerf, thereby securely attaching the molding to the display panel.

In the combination molding and indicia strip, on the sidewall opposite the one having the integral flange there ifa first flange or projection on the upper edge thereof which project outwardly in a general direction away from the edge of the display shelf when the molding is mounted along the edge of a display shelf, and there is a second flange or projection extending from the region of the juncture of the lower edge of this side wall with the bottom wall of the molding, which second projection, together with the side wall and the first projection, define an indicia channel for the reception of a merchandise identifying or price display card or strip, commonly referred to as a ticket holder.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be had from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective, fragmentary view of the combination molding and indicia strip of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in side elevation of the molding and indicia strip shown in FIG. 1 prior to mounting on the edge portion of a shelf or other display panel, the display shelf being broken away for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, fragmentary view of a display shelf having the combination molding and indicia strips as shown in FIG. 1 secured thereto along the longitudinal edges thereof with partitions arranged on top of the display panel both as banding and binning means;

FIG. 4 is a perspective, fragmentary view of a molding strip without the indicia strip shown in FIGS. l3 and illustrating a partition member inserted therein rather than the binning or banding strips of FIGS. 1-3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODlMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the molding and indicia strip of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10. The molding 10 is a molded or extruded plastic elongated strip 12 of substantially channel-shaped cross-section having a pair of spaced flanges or elongated walls 14 and 16 which define the side walls of an elongated slot or U-shaped channel 18 that opens in an upward direction, and the strip 12 has a web or bottom wall 19 integrally formed with the lower edges of the side walls to form the bottom of the slot 18.

To secure the strip 12 along the edge of a merchandise display counter or the like, there is provided on the wall 14 a laterally-projecting fastening tongue or flange 20 that is integrally formed on the exterior surface of the wall 14 intermediate its upper and lower edges, and the integral flange 20 extends longitudinally substantially the entire length of the strip 12 and substantially perpendicularly from side wall 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a shelf 22, that has had a slot or groove 24 previously provided along the edge thereof, is easily provided with the edging or molding strip 12. The integral flange 20 is simply started or inserted into the slot 24 and then it is tapped into place with a mallet. Serrations 26 provided on the flange 20 insure a positive friction fit and securely mount the molding strip 12 on the display shelf 22.

The side walls 14 and 16 are normally parallel, but due to their being formed of plastic, they are resiliently yieldable out of parallelism to permit the insertion of an elongated binning or banding strip 28 when the binning or banding strip is pushed into the channel or slot 18, and the side walls 12 and 14 are capable of springing back to their normal parallel relationship to embrace the binning or banding strip 28 tightly between their inner surfaces. This arrangement allows factory or easy-on-site installation of the binning or banding strips 28 into the channel or slot 18.

The side walls 14 and 16 each have inwardly-turned confronting lip portions 30 formed on their top or upper edge which extend substantially along the entire length of the walls, and these lip portions 30 extend generally inwardly toward one another partially closing the slot 18 to retain or confine the binning or banding strip 28 within the slot 18 and prevent withdrawal or upward movement of the strip 28 unless the walls 14 and 16 are forced apart.

The binning or banding strip 28 is a molded, rubber or plastic elongated strip having a plurality of vertical openings 32 which divide the length of the strip into a series of spaced side-by-side sockets. Each one of the sockets is adapted to snugly receive and frictionally hold cooperating tab or fastening means of partitions or merchandise dividers and retainers to be mounted on the tops of a display shelf; such partitions and an arrangement thereof on the top of a display shelf is illustrated in FIG. 3.

To provide an indicia channel for the reception of an insert such as a price strip or display card 33, the outer flange or side wall 16 is provided on its upper edge with a first flange or projection 34 that projects outwardly in a general direction away from or opposite its lip portion 30, and at the juncture of the lower edge of the wall 16 with the web or bottom wall 19 there is provided a second flange or projection 36 which has a downwardly-directed portion 38 and an upturned terminal portion 40. The free edges of these flanges 34, 36 are oppositely curved toward each other and the second projection 36, together with the first projection 34 and flange 16, form the ticket holder or indicia channel 42 on the molding or edging strip 12.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a display shelf 44 is provided with the abovedescribed molding along both its front and rear longitudinal edges. At times the molding 12 will be attached to the shelf only along the front edge thereof, and at times will be also utilized along the side edges or ends 46 and 48, depending upon need. For the purposes of illustration only, the molding 12 is shown on the longitudinal front and rear edges of the shelf panel 44, the end 48, but not along the end 46.

Partitions 50 comprising generally rectangular panels 52 are arranged along the end 48 and along the longitudinal edges of the shelf 44 and form front, rear and end panels to prevent articles of mechandise or the like from falling off the shelf 44. Also arranged on the shelf 44 i another partition 56 arranged transversely of the shelf 44 to divide the upper surface of the shelf into compartments or bins of desired sizes, which sizes can be readily changed or varied by removal of a given partition 56, or the moving of such a partition to another location along the shelf 44. Only one partition 56 has been illustrated, but others may of course be positioned atop the shelf. These partitions 50 and 56 have been illustrated as rectangular panels, but they may take other forms such as the wire rod units as are illustrated in the above-mentioned patent to Peacock, No. 3,308,963.

Each of the partitions have metal pins or tabs 58 at their base portions that fit into the openings or sockets 32 of the binning or banding strips 28 to fasten and removably support them in association with the strips 28 and atop the display shelf 44. As indicated above, the banding or binning strips 28 are formed of rubber or of a plastic such as polyethylene, and as a result have a high coetficient of friction. Such high friction material insures a positive gripping action between the strips 28 and the pins 58 and prevents accidental dislodging of the partitions due to customer shopping.

Referring now to FIG. 4 and comparing it with FIG. 1, it will be noted that the flange 34 and the flange 36 are omitted from this form of the molding and that in place of the binning or banding strip 28 there is provided a partition member 60. In some applications of the molding strip, it is not desirable to have the indicia channel 42, for example, along the rear longiutdinal edge of a display shelf that is out of view, and in this latter in stance, the molding strip 10 with the channel 42 can be employed along the front edge, and the molding as illustrated in FIG. 4 can be employed along the rear edge of the shelf. The partition member 60 has been illustrated to show the versatility of the molding strips and to show that either the binning or banding strips 28 can be inserted into the strip or, when desired, a partition member can be inserted directly into the molding strip to serve as a binning or banding means.

From the foregoing, the invention and its numerous advantages will be understood, and it is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A molding for securing and supporting binning or banding means along the peripheral edges of display shelves and the like comprising,

(a) an elongated strip having a pair of spaced elongated walls defining the side walls of an elongated slot opening in an upward direction when the elongated strip is mounted along the edge of a display shelf or the like and a bottom wall integrally formed with the lower edges of the side walls to form the bottom of the slot, the pair of elongated walls normally parallel but resiliently yieldable out of parallelism to admit a binning or banding strip into the slot when the binning or banding strip is pushed into the slot and capable of springing back to their normal parallel relationship to embrace the binning or banding strip tightly between their inner surfaces, each of the spaced walls having a lip portion on the upper edge thereof partially closing the slot to prevent withdrawal of the binning or banding strip from the slot, and

(b) a longitudinallyextending flange for securing the elongated strip along the edge of a display shelf or the like, the longitudinally-extending flange being integrally formed on the exterior surface of one of the side walls intermediate its upper and lower edges and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

2. The molding as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the spaced elongated walls has a lip portion on the upper edge thereof extending substantially along its entire length, the lip portions of the walls extending from the upper edges of the walls generally inwardly toward one another partially closing the slot to prevent withdrawal of the binning or banding strip from the slot.

3. The molding as defined in claim 2 wherein one of the elongated walls has a first projection along the upper edge thereof extending substantially along its entire length and projecting generally outwardly of its upper edge in a direction generally opposite to its lip portion and a second projection extending from the region of the juncture of the one elongated wall with the bottom wall of the slot, the first and second projections forming therebetween a channel for the reception of an insert upon the face of which is marked identifying indicia or information.

4. A molding and indicia strip for attachment along the edges of display shelves and the like comprising in combination,

(a) an elongated body portion, the elongated body portion being a substantially U-shaped channel open at its top throughout its length and having a web and a pair of spaced flanges,

(b) an elongated strip having a plurality of openings therein which divide the length of the strip into a series of spaced side-by-side sockets being positioned in the channel between the pair of spaced flanges, each one of the sockets adapted to snugly and frictionally hold cooperating means on partitions to be mounted on the display shelves,

() an integral flange formed on the elongated body portion for securing the body portion to the edge of a display shelf,

(d) a first projection on the upper edge of one of the spaced flanges projecting outwardly in a general direction away from the edge of the display shelf when the body portion is mounted along the edge of a display shelf, and

(e) a second projection extending from the region of the juncture of the lower edge of the one flange with the web of the channel, which second projection, together with the one flange and the first projection define an indicia channel for the reception of an insert upon the face of which is marked identifying indicia or information.

5. A molding and indicia strip as defined in claim 4 4 the channel to retain the elongated strip within the channel and prevent withdrawal of the elongated strip from the channel.

7. For use on a merchandise display counter and the like, the combination comprising an elongated member of substantially channel-shaped cross-section having a bottom, side walls and an open top, one of the side walls having a serrated fastening tongue projecting laterally therefrom, the top and bottom edges of the other side wall having outwardly-projecting flanges thereon, the free edges of which are curved toward each other to form a ticket holder, the top edges of both side walls having inwardly-turned confronting lips, a rubberous strip received in the channel and confined therein against upward movement by the lips, the rubberous strip having a series of vertical tabreceiving openings for receiving and frictionally holding tabs of merchandise dividers and retainers to be mounted on the display counter.

8. A molding for securing and supporting binning or banding means along the peripheral edges of display shelves and the like comprising,

(a) an elongated strip having a pair of spaced elongated walls defining the side walls of an elongated slot opening in an upward direction when the elongated strip is mounted along the edge of a display shelf or the like and a bottom wall integrally formed with the lower edges of the side walls to form the bottom of the slot, the pair of elongated walls normally parallel but being resiliently yieldable out of parallelism to admit a binning or banding strip into the slot when the binning or banding strip is pushed into the slot and capable of springing back to their normal parallel relationship to embrace the binning or banding strip tightly between their inner surfaces, and

(b) a longitudinally-extending flange for securing the elongated strip along the edge of a display shelf or the like, the longitudinally-extending flange being integrally formed on the exterior surface of one of the side walls intermediate its upper and lower edges and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,734,789 2/1956 Wilson 312140.3X 3,044,631 7/1962 Greenman 108- 110 X 3,308,963 3/1967 Peacock 3l2140.3 X

NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 312-1403 

